Satellite services provider Intelsat S.A. and communications provider MTN Satellite Communications announced that they will provide high-speed marine satellite internet and communications services for the cruise and yacht sectors through Intelsat's next-gen EpicNG Ku-band satellite.
Intelsat and MTN entered a long-term agreement where MTN will initially use capacity on Intelsat's Ku-band mobile global broadband infrastructure to provide Caribbean cruise and yacht operators with satellite Internet and communications. In 2015, Intelsat will launch its first EpicNG satellite, Intelsat 29e, which will bring massively-increased broadband capacity and coverage to the satcom playing field. MTN will then partly transition to EpicNG platform and provide custom-designed service featuring up to 2 Gbps capacity in important Caribbean regions.
The EpicNG Ku-band satellite will complement Intelsat's existing, extensive network of earlier platforms.
"MTN has been an important partner to Intelsat for more than two decades," said Steve Spengler, Intelsat EVP of Sales, Marketing and Strategy, "and is one of the true pioneers of the maritime VSAT sector." According to EVP Spengler, the Intelsat EpicNG platform will allow MTN to differentiate its service features and provide much higher throughput to each individual vessel. The widespread availability of affordable, reliable connectivity would change the cruise ship and yachting experience.
Errol Olivier, President and CEO of MTN Satellite Communications, stated that the Intelsat EpicNG infrastructure was "game-changing" and "will allow us to once again set the bar for broadband telecommunications at sea." MTN's eventual move to EpicNG would be the the first strategic step to provide services beyond increased satellite bandwidth.
"Our cruise and yacht customers want to offer their guests and crew the same Internet experience they have at home or at land-based resorts." President Olivier said. "We are confident that our service on Intelsat EpicNG, along with our other innovative wireless and application optimization solutions, will exceed our customers expectations."
Kevin McCarthy, MTN's SVP of Network Engineering, agreed with his boss. "The innovative Intelsat EpicNG platform will give us unprecedented control," he said, "Allowing us to customize every aspect of the service."
EpicNG service would not just provide a huge boost in throughput and reliability. It would also maintain backwards compatibility with the rest of MTN's global Ku-band network.
"Our cruise and yacht customers will be able to seamlessly roam into our high-throughput beams with their existing Ku antennas," SVP McCarthy pointed out.
HughesNet, the company that developed satellite internet has launched the largest satellite ever built. Starting October 1, 2012, the new Gen 4 satellite will provide service to over 1 million homes in the eastern regions of the United States, and parts of California, Oregon and Washington State The new service will offer download speeds of up to 15 Mbps and HughesNet will switch from a daily data limit to a monthly limit.
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